MMDA hauls 139 truckloads of trash from cemeteries

MANILA, Philippines – The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) collected yesterday 139 truckloads or 834 tons of garbage from public cemeteries in the metropolis after Filipinos visited their dead over the weekend.

The MMDA said 19 truckloads of trash were collected at the Manila North Cemetery while 15 truckloads were hauled at the Manila South Cemetery. Twelve truckloads of garbage were collected at the San Juan public cemetery.

At least one truckload of trash was collected by the Caloocan City’s environmental sanitation services at the Sangandaan public cemetery.

“As of yesterday, we have collected at least 139 truckloads of garbage and the cleanup of cemeteries is still ongoing,” MMDA clearing operations head Francis Martinez said over dzBB.

The agency’s cleanup of cemeteries in Metro Manila started on Oct. 27, Martinez said.

He said the cleanup will continue today in 21 cemeteries in Manila, Quezon City, Pasay, Valenzuela and Parañaque.

Martinez said the garbage collection is twice the volume of trash collected last year.

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino expects that more garbage will be collected by the agency’s cleanup teams.

Tolentino noted that leaving trash in cemeteries during Undas was unavoidable as candles and flowers are often left at the graves of loved ones.